It is known that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiov

Question

It is known that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiovascular disease. The French cuisine contains significantly more fat than the American cuisine. Yet just 7 percent of French adults are obese, as compared with 22 percent of Americans, and the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease is significantly lower in France.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox?

A. French cuisine uses more cream than butter whereas in American cuisine butter plays a bigger role in supplying the necessary fat for cooking.

B. Genetically, the French are more disposed to gaining weight than the Americans are.

C. France is more advanced than the United States of America in terms of using technology for successful treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

D. The meal servings and food portions are significantly smaller in French households, restaurants and supermarkets than in their American counterparts.

E. The Americans are more physically active and health conscious than their French counterparts.

gloomybison · Answer

A. French cuisine uses more cream than butter whereas in American cuisine butter plays a bigger role in supplying the necessary fat for cooking.
Though this looks tempting, we are already given that French cuisine contains more fat than American cuisine does. So it doesn't matter whether French use cream to make prepare their meals. We may be prone to think that cream is less severe than butter, but as long as we are not given such a solid info, we can't assume so.

B. Genetically, the French are more disposed to gaining weight than the Americans are.
This would further worsen the paradox.

C. France is more advanced than the United States of America in terms of using technology for successful treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Does treating cardiovascular diseases help obesity? Could be. But we don't know. Also we care about obesity numbers not cardiovascular diseases number

D. The meal servings and food portions are significantly smaller in French households, restaurants and supermarkets than in their American counterparts.
 Correct  
What if French consume less fat despite eating foods with more fat? This would tell that in a lifetime Americans may consume more fat in total amount than French does

E. The Americans are more physically active and health conscious than their French counterparts.
This would further worsen the paradox.

It is known that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiov

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It is known that dietary fat is the major cause of obesity and cardiov

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